Warranty on Sears Screwdriver?

[Bubba Fett]

I just came back from Lowes and was told they only sell Craftsman sets and couldn't warranty my Craftsman Phillips screwdriver. I will try Ace Hardware and see if they are warranting Craftsman.

They may get them in soon. My local Lowe's just got individual drivers in, but only a few sizes. Looks like they are about to reset their whole tool section. I figure they will get a bigger selection after that.

 

[No Sweat Photos]

What about the STINKY ones, they are still in usable shape but the smell when I open a old tool box I quickly close it.

 

[xin]

What about the STINKY ones, they are still in usable shape but the smell when I open a old tool box I quickly close it.

Threw away a lot of them some years back. That has to be the worst odor and it like stays around for a WHILE.

 

[PFSard]

I have never understood why the tool manufactures have lifetime warranty on an item that almost always gets abused.

Multitude of reasons, I'm sure. In this case, Sears is a retailer, not a manufacturer.

1. After competing on price, to entice customers further to buy products. Similar in logic to an employer offering benefit packages.

2. To attract repeat business; you needed to come into a Sears location to warranty the tool; as long as you're there, shop around and buy more.

As an aside, I'd be interested in any research people have done on the history of tool warranties.

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

I see no problem with this. Sears offers the warranty, No questions asked. If they will replace it, take it. Theres nothing wrong about replacing a tool thats guaranteed no mstter what. I can break a ratchet, take it to sears, get a new one and beat it on the ground right im front of the counter until it breaks and hand it over and theyll give me another. Youre not cheating the system youre following the rules...

 

[Tinner]

I see no problem with this. Sears offers the warranty, No questions asked. If they will replace it, take it. Theres nothing wrong about replacing a tool thats guaranteed no mstter what. I can break a ratchet, take it to sears, get a new one and beat it on the ground right im front of the counter until it breaks and hand it over and theyll give me another. Youre not cheating the system youre following the rules...

Of course, you're correct. However, the GJ Arbiters of Warranty Morality would disagree. They exist on a higher plane, looking down on the rest of us as they would dog **** on their shoes.

 

[bpjr]

I have never understood why the tool manufactures have lifetime warranty on an item that almost always gets abused.

I wish Ford did that, I've put 202,000 miles on my F-150. I WANT A NEW ONE FOR FREE!!!

Just kidding....

Per what was taught in college, statistically, only 1 in 10 people return stuff when they have the option. So figure there are 9 broken tools not returned for every 1 tool that was returned. It brings the warranty cost way down.

 

[exmaxima1]

I just came back from Lowes and was told they only sell Craftsman sets and couldn't warranty my Craftsman Phillips screwdriver. I will try Ace Hardware and see if they are warranting Craftsman.

I had a similar situation last year at Sears---they wouldn't replace my magnetic driver handle unless I returned the full set. I explained that it was not part of a set when I bought it 20 years ago, but they now only sell it in a set so I was out of luck.

I then asked if my recent MaxxAxxis (?) wrench set was also in that boat, as they don't sell single wrenches: yep, I would need to return the entire set for a full replacement!

Bad trend.....

 

[Mechanical Noise]

I had a similar situation last year at Sears---they wouldn't replace my magnetic driver handle unless I returned the full set. I explained that it was not part of a set when I bought it 20 years ago, but they now only sell it in a set so I was out of luck.

I then asked if my recent MaxxAxxis (?) wrench set was also in that boat, as they don't sell single wrenches: yep, I would need to return the entire set for a full replacement!

Bad trend.....

The usual work around was that they'd break up a set to service a warranty.

Bad trend #1381.

 

[Here2Learn]

I say keep it, as the replacement will be some made in China screwdriver. Grind, reshape or repurpose it.

 

[L.Cheapo]

What about the STINKY ones, they are still in usable shape but the smell when I open a old tool box I quickly close it.

I sneaked the ones I had into my Dad's toolbox when he wasn't there.

 

[SuperCat]

It would probably be easier to just touch it up on a bench grinder, a few seconds is all it would take. Be careful, of course! That's what I do with my flat bladed screwdrivers, but sometimes I use them in ways that cause more maintenance to be needed, such as scraping, prying, digging weeds, punching holes, etc. I haven't broken a CM plastic handle on a screwdriver yet, but if I do, I would own my abuse and buy another. I just bought a 15 piece set of Home Depot Husky screwdrivers because I liked the rubber molded handles. We'll see how those work out.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

As an aside, I'd be interested in any research people have done on the history of tool warranties.

Not tool warranties specifically, but Terry Reilly did an "Under the Influence" episode on lifetime warranties:

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/undertheinfluence/satisfaction-guaranteed-1.2801751

This is a text summary of Terry O'Reilly's excellent radio show/podcast. The show is made in Canada and is carried in the US only on WBEZ in Chicago. I have no idea why the show isn't carried more widely, it's really informative and entertaining.

If you're curious, there's some podcasts linked here:

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/undertheinfluence